Former Tide QB Freddie Kitchens has heart surgery

by Stu McCann

Former Alabama quarterback Freddie Kitchens. (abc3340.com)

Former Alabama quarterback Freddie Kitchens is recovering from heart surgery.

Kitchens is now the NFL assistant coach for the Arizona Cardinals. He became sick in the middle of the Cardinals mini camp practice on Tuesday. A CT Scan at a Arizona hospital revealed a defect to his aorta.

Kitchens was in surgery for nine hours on Tuesday night. The next 24 hours are considered critical in his recovery.

Kitchens has been on the Cardinals coaching staff since 2007.

He was a three year starter at quarterback for Alabama and helped the Crimson Tide win 22 games in a three year span (1995-97)